The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-16
Some Matters Which are Receiving
Attention at Present.

The Press and Banner entirely disagrees
with every sentiment which would seem 10
foster belief that the former days were bet
ter than these. We believe In the constant
growth and er-ceaslng development OF all
The better qualities Of man, and we believe
desirable quality than 1t was fifty years ago,
or at any other period in the worlds history.
Before we can definitely decide as to the nd
vance or retrograde Of civilization we must
first define what is meant by "civilizntion:"
In olden times there was high "civiliZa-
tion," but 1t was q different type from what
might be called the "Christlan civilization"
birth OF our Saviour had a "civilization," !"
which in one sense may be said to have been
higher civilization than the christian CIV
hs whsh Ras Ras
which is taught by the "Christian civiliza-
tion." The knights" of later days were
brave and honorable, but theirs was differ
ent civilization from ours. When we speak
of the advance or retrograGe Of "civilization,"
we should frst decide what is meant by "civ'
The peopl Of to-day practice those humane
and tender traits Of the human heart to a
greater extent than at any previous tlme
In Christian county, as ours IS, Ills II is dIf- ra
cepts which were taught by our Saviour. If
the printed records as to the spread of the
gospel and as TO the growth Of Christianity
are any index to truth. our culture aIic our
civilization has advancey as rapidlp as the
sciences and the mechanic arts. The small
handful Of followers of the humble CALI
and SaSe nee
foot upon the soil Of every land, and these tol-
lowers have made their impress upon every
people with whom they have come In contact.
grades in any truly manly or godlike partlcu'
lar. but we believe that every invented de-
vice. and every discovery Of any useful force
has contributed to the wealth Of the country,
and added In the GRAND total of human hap
piness. . uo,,.. uo,,
roads, either separately or consolidated, and
we have nothing to say against the accumula-
tion OF capital by those possessing the Skill to
make the money, or inherting the power of
conquest No institution, corporation. or 9th
for the civilization, development or growth of
a country or for the benefit Of all classes and
conditions OF people, as the railroads have
branch Of industry outside of agricultural
pursuits. and they give higher pay than any
other corporation. II the man with muscle
tories, the probability Is, that he will never
rise from his menal position, but II the same
man goes to work for the railroads his man.
ual labor will be relieved as he is advanced in
his position and as his pay and his response
bility Is increased.
From the very nature of things the rail-
roads are obliged to have faithful service.
The companies cannot afford to entrust their
valuable property and the lives of their pas
sepgers In the hands Of careless or inexperi.
enced hands, nor can they afford to leopard
the valuable freight for which they are re-
spopslble.
The fear that great railroad combinations
may ruin the country, Is, In our opinion, not
founded on any reasonable or probable as
sumption.
When little petty tyrants owned the little
short roads, they practiced those evils or dis
eliminating for or against the cities which
might be IN their favor or which may nave IN
Cured their displeasure. We all remember
the old rlckety. coaches and the slow trains
that Dodamead and Charleston run over tne
poor track of the Columbia and Greenville
Railroad, and we have not forgotten the eX
horbant charges which they made for poor &C
commodations. Everybody notices the Inn
proved trains and the quick transit since the
consolidation.
These great corporations care nothing for
tearing down Richmond to build up Balti
more. They will likely do nothing for the
destruction OF Charlotte, Columbia or Angus
Ia. Neither will they put Charleston to the
nursing bottle In our own opinion, these
great corporations will neither build nor tare
down cities by their own dictum.
II the consolidated roads should attempt In
jury to the country, we have state laws &c
protect us. II they seek to violate the rights
Of any citizen a grand jury and an organized
Court can be found in every county through
which foot OF their track Is laid. In every
county petit jury can be found who will pro
tect their neghbors and see that they suffer
no wrong from the railroads, even though
they were disposed 10 intiict wrong.
The idea that the invention OF labor-saVlnE
machines is Injurious to the welfare ant
happiness Of the laborer is a delusion. The
poor people in no country without these use
ful machines are as comfortable as the poOl
people Of our own country.